Combination-lock for the steering-posts of automobiles



J. RACOW.

COMBINATION LOCK FOR THE STEERING POSTS 0F AUTOMOBILE S- APPL|CAT|0N HLED JULY 3111919.

1,327,406, Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. RACOW.

COMBINATION LOCK FOE THE STEERING P0818 0F AUTOMOBILESQ APPLICATION FILED JULY 31.1919.

1,327,406, Patented Jan. 6,1920.

JOSEPH RACOW, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

COMBINATION-LOCK FOR; THE STEERING-POSTS 0F AUTOMOBILES;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6,. 1920.

Application filed July 31, 1919. Serial No. 314,540.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH RAcow, a citizen of the United. States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combination- Locksfor the Steering-Posts of Automobiles; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the characters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this application, and represent, in

Figure 1, a face view of acombination lockembodying my invention. 1

Fig. 2, arear view of the same.

Fig. 3, a broken sectional view showing I the bolt in its locked position.

Fig. 4, an inside view with the back plate removed.

Fig. 5, a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 4, with theface plate removed.

Fig. 6, a side view of the tumbler plate detached.

Fig. 7 aside view of the locking sleeve detached.

Fig. 8, a perspective view of one of the tumblers detached.

Fig. 9, a plan view of the back plate, detached.

This invention relates to'an improvement in combination locks for the steering posts of automobiles, the object of the invention being to provide a lock for this purpose which will be, secure and which is operated without a key, and the invention consists in the construction and combination of parts. as hereinafter described and particularly recited inrthe claims. 7

In carrying out my invention as herein shown, I employ a front plate 10, formed with a central knob hole 11, a series of tumbler screw openings 12, and with a forwardly projecting annular flange 13. Extending outwardly through the knob hole 11 is a knob 14 formed with a central longitudinal threaded chamber 15 and with an annular collar 16 seated in a recess 17 formed for it in the inner face of the front plate 11, in which it is held in place by a tumbler plate secured to the face plate by screws 18.

In each of the tumbler screw openings 12 is a tumbler-screw-knob 19, each formed with an annular collar 20 seated in a recess 21 formed for them in the face plate, which collars are also held in place by the tumbler plate 54. Each tumbler-knob has a tumbler screw 22 extending between tumbler guides 23 formed on the tumbler plate 54, and on each screw and traveling between the guides 23 is a tumbler 24- each formed at one end with tumbler tooth 25.

On the squared hub-spindle 26 is an annular locking sleeve 27 adapted to be turned by the knob 14and formed with radial look ing ribs 28 shorter than the length of'the sleeve and corresponding in number to the number oftumblers 24, the teeth of which are adapted to extend between the ribs The tumbler guides and tumblers are inclosed by a casing band 29, one end of which rests upon the edge of the tumbler plate 54, the other end extending flush with the inner ends of the tumbler-guides 23, and this ring is held in place by a back plate 30 which is secured in place by screws 31 extending into the ends of the tumbler guides. This back plate is formed on one side with a centrally arranged collar 32 telescopically entering the sleeve 27 so as to form a support therefor, and on the opposite side; with a threaded boss 33 having an angular central opening34, for an angular locking bolt 35, the outer end 36 of which is threaded for entrance into the chamber 15 of the knob 14. T

seat for ayoke plate 45 having a central threaded hub 46' for engagement with the boss 33. This yoke-plate is formed with a centrally arranged angular clearance hole 47 for the locking bolt-35'. i

The yoke-plate is adapted tobe screwed to the steering post tube 41 bya yoke 48, the ends of which are secured to the yoke: plate by screws 49, so that it cannot be unscrewed from the back plate until the angular portion of the bolt is retired so as to clear the yoke-plate.

If all the tumblers are arranged as the one shown in Fig. 3 and are all moved outward to the limit of their movement, the teeth 25 will clear the ends of the ribs 28 and the knob 14 may be turned to move the nose of the locking bolt into or out of an engagement with the steering post, but if any one of the tumblers be nosed inwardit will lock the sleeve 27 and hence the knob 14 against turning. If one of the tumblers be reversed, as for instance the tumbler 50 shown in Fig. 5, that tumbler must be moved inwardly so that its tooth 51 will clear the inner ends of the ribs 28 and one or more of the tumblers may be thu reversed, so that all the reversed tumblers must be moved inward and the remaining tumblers moved outward to permit the sleeve 27 and hence the knob let to be rotated. It'may be here mentioned that each of the tumbler knobs 19 will bear an indicating letter or number so that the person knowing the combination may properly operate the tumblers to bring them to their unlocking position. To provide for additional security in leaving a vehicle locked, two of the ribs may be connected by a stop 52 and one of the ribs thus connected formed with a pass 53 ll'ltGIIl'lB, diate its ends, as shown in Fig. 7 and so that if one of the reversed tumblers be moved into line with the pass 58 and the sleeve turned so that the stop is in line with the tooth of such tumbler, that tumbler cannot be moved to clear the ribs, as its tooth will contact with the stop, and so that one must know which tumbler to move and then'move it outwardly into line with the pass, then turn the cylinder and then move the tumbler to clear the ribsI thus provide a very secure lock with one reversed tumbler.

1. In a combination lock, the combination with a locking sleeve, formed with radial ribs of a series of longitudinally movable tumblers, formed with teeth adapted to engage with said ribs, a series of screws on which the said tumblers are mounted, said screws each provided with a knob by which it may be turned for moving said tumblers into and out of engagement with said look ing sleeve.

2. In a combination lock, the combination with a locking sleeve, formed with radial ribs of a eries of longitudinally movable, reversible, tumblers, formed with teeth adapted to engage with said ribs, a series of screws on which the said tumblers are mounted, said screws each provided with a knob by which it may be turned for moving said tumblers into and out of engagement with said locking sleeve.

3. In a combination lock, the combination with a locking sleeve, formed with radial ribs shorter than the length of the sleeve; of a series of longitudinally movable tumblers formed with teeth adapted to engage with said ribs, a series of screws on which the said tumblers are mounted, said screws each provided with a knob by which it may be turned for moving said tumblers into and out of engagement with said locking sleeve.

1 4. In a combination lock, the combination with a locking sleeve formed with radial ribs, shorter than the length of the sleeve, two of said ribs connected by a stop with which a tumbler in line therewith will engage to prevent the clearing movement of such tumbler and one of the said connected ribs formed with a pass; of a series of longitudinally movable tumblers formed with teeth adapted to engage with said ribs, and means for moving sald tumblers into and out of engagement with looking sleeve.

5. In a combination lock, the combination with a locking sleeve formed with radial ribs of a series of longitudinally movable tumblers, formed with teeth adapted to engage with said ribs, a series of screws on which the said tumblers are mounted, said screws each provided with a knob by which it may be turned for moving said tumblers into and out of engagement with said look ing sleeve; a knob connected with said sleeve and a bolt moved longitudinally by the turning of said knob. v

6. A combination lock comprising a face plate, a tumbler plate secured thereto and formed with a series of tumbler guides, tum bler screws, mounted in said face plate and extending between said guides, said screws provided with knobs extending through said face plate, longitudinally movable tumblers 011 said screws, and each formed with a locking tooth; a locking sleeve formed with radial ribs adapted to be engaged by said tumblers, a knob connected with said sleeve by which it may be rotated, a longitudinally JOSEPH RACOW. Witnesses ETHEL M. WHITTLESEY, BENJAMIN F. GoLDMAN. 

